Amanda Brown, the Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, has been elected onto the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation as part of the workers’ group.
“I am delighted and honoured to take on this role. The ILO is a unique international body, giving an equal voice to workers alongside employers and governments, to promote labour standards and rights at work,” said Brown, whose organisation, the NUT, is an affiliate of Education International (EI). “It is no accident that greater levels of respect for trade union rights go hand in hand with greater levels of equality and justice. The struggle we face is to ensure that ILO standards are made real for every worker in all countries of the world."
The Governing Body is the executive body of the ILO and meets three times a year, in March, June and November. It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference, adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference, and elects the Director-General.
Kevin Courtney, the General Secretary of the NUT, said that Brown’s election has been met with great pride.
“Amanda has previously presented evidence to the ILO of ways in which the UK falls short of international standards,” he said. “I am delighted that Amanda has been elected to take up this important role.”
The ILO, an agency of the UN, brings together governments, employers and workers representatives of 187 member States to promote rights at work, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
The ILO’s 106th International Labour Conference is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland from 5-16 June.